January 18, 2013 4:14pm ESTJanuary 18, 2013 3:31pm ESTStanford offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton interviewed Friday for the Oregon head coaching job, according to a report. The Ducks haven't made a head coaching hire outside the program since 1977.

Staff report

Current Ducks’ offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich is thought to be the leading candidate for the position, but Oregon is looking outside as well. Oregon has not hired a head coach from outside its program since 1977.

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Hamilton is the Cardinal’s quarterbacks coach and is credited for helping to bring along Andrew Luck and last year’s eventual starter, Kevin Hogan. In Hogan’s first start on the road late in the season, he led Stanford to one of the biggest upsets of the season when the Cardinal defeated Oregon in overtime.

Hamilton has been Stanford’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2011 and on staff since 2010. Before going to Stanford, he spent three seasons as the Chicago Bears’ quarterbacks coach.

A source close to the hiring process told USA Today Sports that Helfrich will eventually be named Chip Kelly’s successor.

He knows the Ducks’ system in and out and is behind one of the most exciting offenses in the nation.

“(Helfrich) can finish Chip’s sentences,” the source told the paper. “He’s been in that environment long enough (to succeed). It’s a leap of faith, but it’s very similar—I’d almost argue that it was a bigger leap (promoting) Chip than Mark.”